Ivan thought the date had gone better than expected. He’d managed to keep the conversation rolling, cracked a few silly jokes, and even convinced Till to share a bite of his dessert. For someone as quiet and broody as Till, that was basically a miracle. Ivan grinned the whole walk home, completely unaware of the way Till kept stealing glances at him from under his hair.

They strolled side by side until the streetlights thinned and the night grew quieter. Ivan hummed aimlessly, pointing out random things like a crooked mailbox or a shop sign with a funny typo. Till didn’t say much, but he stayed close, and that felt nice.

When they finally reached the spot where they had to part ways, Ivan stopped, scratching the back of his neck. “I had loads of fun tonight,” he said honestly.

Till blinked, his expression shifting, almost expectant. He leaned in just slightly, and Ivan, thinking Till was tired or maybe cold, pulled him into a quick hug. Without much thought, he kissed Till’s forehead, warm and gentle.

“There we go,” Ivan said brightly. “Perfect ending to a perfect night!”

Till went stiff in his arms, staring up at him with wide eyes. Ivan, completely oblivious, just patted his shoulder before stepping back. “Get home safe, yeah?” he added with his usual easy smile.